Thanks for posting this info, Brian. It shows that the level of awareness has been raised
and management is now (finally) trying to do something to protect the Bull trout.
However, it is far from sufficient. 3 years ago the first Lake trout were detected
in the Swan drainage and more of them since then. That’s really bad news
and spells the demise of Bulls in that draingae too just like in much of the rest
of the Flathead. All fishing for Bulls should be stopped in that drainage.

Unfortunately, and this is very important, the Bull trout is only listed as “threatened”
and not as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973.
The ESA defines “endangered” as “any species which is in danger of extinction
throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” “Threatened” is defined as
“any species which is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future
throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” So essentially we are waiting
till the s*** ‘hits the fan, till we designate the Bull trout as “endangered”.
The reason being, that it would have vast implications for management of
the entire Columbia River drainage.

The ESA forbids Federal Agencies from authorizing, funding or carrying out actions
which may “jeopardize the continued existence of “endangered or threatened
species” (Section 7(a) (2)). It forbids any government agency, corporation,
or citizen from taking or harming endangered animals without a permit.
And when a species is listed as endangered, the ESA also requires that “critical habitat”
be designated for that species, including areas necessary to recover the species (Section 3(5) (A)).
Federal agencies are forbidden from authorizing, funding, or carrying out any action
which “destroys or adversely modifies” critical habitat (Section 7(a) (2)).

That in essence would prevent hydropower generation to operate as it does today,
and open the doors to legal wrangling that would dwarf the spotted owl controversy,
in both the amount of money involved as well as the area (drainage)
implicated by policy decisions.

how about this one Brian…think I might have showed it to you before but cant remember…figured him to be close to 30 lbs…would have been Montana record but for the fact you need to return them….but then all I am is a catch and release guy. No catch card on this river
I did a search on dolly varden and pulled up this thread of about a year old

how about this one Brian…think I might have showed it to you before but cant remember…figured him to be close to 30 lbs…would have been Montana record but for the fact you need to return them….but then all I am is a catch and release guy. No catch card on this river
I did a search on dolly varden and pulled up this thread of about a year old http][/quote:1sq1sg94]

So the question is… what did you get him on? Were you pullin’ streamers or throwing hardware his way?

First, it reminded me how wise and informative TOXOS’s post are/were. For some reason that I missed, he is no longer posting with us … our loss.

Second, I just returned from a N. California trip fishing Digger Creek, East of Red Bluff, and on the McCloud River below Bernie Falls. I caught many rainbows over 20″, but the Dolly Varden (Bull Trout) are gone…no longer in the drainage … a sad damper on an otherwise wonderful trip.

Some of our young anglers would not know the difference, having never experienced the difference, but for us old guys there is a hole, a void, that can’t be filled.

First, it reminded me how wise and informative TOXOS’s post are/were. For some reason that I missed, he is no longer posting with us … our loss.[/u:2b7hpljs] True that.[/color:2b7hpljs]

Second, I just returned from a N. California trip fishing Digger Creek, East of Red Bluff, and on the McCloud River below Bernie Falls. I caught many rainbows over 20″, but the Dolly Varden (Bull Trout) are gone…no longer in the drainage … a sad damper on an otherwise wonderful trip.

Some of our young anglers would not know the difference, having never experienced the difference, but for us old guys there is a hole, a void, that can’t be filled.

Nice to know there are some Bulls still surviving [/quote:2b7hpljs]

I never have had the pleasure
But an Alaska fishing trip is on the horizon.
Regarding your link about records, trout have to be stocked in Texas. One of the only places they summer over is below Canyon Dam which is a cold-water release. More than record rainbows there are record Striped Bass. Most of which get caught on a 7″ lure that mimicks a rainbow trout .

I’m not a fisherman… But You guys are Making me
Wanna Go out and Buy the Gear.
I spentLots of lazy days on a Pontoon Boat
When I was a Kid,
Matter a Fact, I pretty Much lived on it
During Summer Vacation,
From 8th Grade till 12th.
I just lost all intrest in it..
We Didn’t have any Trout or Salmon.
It was mainly Perch, Walleye,Musky,Panfish and Carp.
I think all my stuff is packed away in Grandpas Garage.
Might have to Go Sift through it all

I’m not a fisherman… But You guys are Making me
Wanna Go out and Buy the Gear.
I spentLots of lazy days on a Pontoon Boat
When I was a Kid,
Matter a Fact, I pretty Much lived on it
During Summer Vacation,
From 8th Grade till 12th.
I just lost all intrest in it..
We Didn’t have any Trout or Salmon.
It was mainly Perch, Walleye,Musky,Panfish and Carp.
I think all my stuff is packed away in Grandpas Garage.
Might have to Go Sift through it all [/quote:1ptsgg10]

You should bro, I bet the girls would love to go out there and fish too!

I’m not a fisherman… But You guys are Making me
Wanna Go out and Buy the Gear.
I spentLots of lazy days on a Pontoon Boat
When I was a Kid,
Matter a Fact, I pretty Much lived on it
During Summer Vacation,
From 8th Grade till 12th.
I just lost all intrest in it..
We Didn’t have any Trout or Salmon.
It was mainly Perch, Walleye,Musky,Panfish and Carp.
I think all my stuff is packed away in Grandpas Garage.
Might have to Go Sift through it all [/quote:25td06g3]

You should bro, I bet the girls would love to go out there and fish too! [/quote:25td06g3]We tried them on the lake,, They were Bored to all “He will”
But We have a Blast on the Ponds

Well I decided to bring this post back to life a year later again Brian…went down to the river to try and get a huge rainbow but hooked on this Bull trout (dolly varden or as dodge girl’s neice says doyy parden ) A female weighing in at 14.5 lbs. Threw her back of course …I keep trying to hook onto a big rainbow but every year seem to get huge bulls World record rainbow was caught a mile down river of this spot a few years back…bull trout are a catch and release fish only here…which is good